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World Cup 71 Bid: Noburu Taiyou (H.R.E.) & Royal Kingdom of Québec
Football Taiyou, on behalf of the "Free Republics" and funded by a sizable donation from Nicholls Enterprises and Royal Québec Football Association, on behalf of the Royal Kingdom of Québec, submit the following host bid for the 71st edition of the World Cup:
I. World Cup Hosts
About Noburu Taiyou
Noburu Taiyou is a mostly autonomous colony of the Holy Republican Empire, located in the region of Esportiva. Formerly an independent nation, the Taiyouese military made an ill-advised attack on the Republican naval base at Charm Harbor several decades ago and were conquered by the nation then known as the Federation Free Republics. Whether the attack was partially instigated by the Republicans is a subject of debate among historians, with most Taiyouese historians saying that it was and most Republican historians denying any such claims. Regardless, Noburu Taiyou is mostly autonomous, though a substantial and increasing number of Taiyouese desire their independence from the nation that now styles itself the "Holy" Republican Empire. Historians on both sides generally agree that Taiyou was made an autonomous colony so that they could set their tax rates high enough to be able to afford the reparations that they were forced to pay for the war against their now colonial masters, reparations that the Taiyouese government still has to pay, decades later.
Taiyou has entered several Campionato Esportiva tournaments in the past, without much success. They have not done much of note at the international level in sports, but their colonial masters, the Holy Republicans, are an accomplished nation that reached the final of World Cup 68 and qualified for World Cup 69 before their shocking failure to qualify for World Cup 70 amid intra-squad turmoil. While Consul Kulseth and the Imperial Government are not particularly happy about their colony's decision to bid for the World Cup on their behalf, they have nonetheless agreed to permit Taiyou to submit a bid on behalf of the Holy Republican Empire due to their lack of confidence in their National Team's ability to qualify for the World Cup on their own merits, even with disgraced former manager Rule Theriault (who turned a blind eye as his team committed felonies, caused international incidents, conspired with gamblers to throw WCC matches and feuded with one another) no longer around. Given the lack of nations interested in bidding for the World Cup with a Church of Saintland-aligned government, Kulseth was faced with the choice between permitting Taiyou to bid on his nation's behalf or sending his new National Team, purified of immoral elements, into the crapshoot that is World Cup Qualifying. Kulseth chose the former option.
About Royal Kingdom of Québec
Located in Northern AO, Royal Kingdom of Québec is a nation known for its environment, rich cultural diversity and claims one of its region's most educated and cultured population. Led by His Imperial Majesty the Jacques IX, the country is a semi-constitutional monarchy, with both the royalty and the democracy playing a huge role in Quebecois politics. With a high HDI rating and affluent economy, Royal Kingdom of Québec is an advanced nation with long years of peace and stability within the nation, while still allowing for societal and economic progress over the course of its history. With a beautiful environment, advanced economy, state-of-art infrastructure and love of football, Royal Kingdom of Québec is your place to go for your once-in-a-lifetime voyage that welcomes every traveler with smile and cheer.
In terms of international football, Royal Kingdom of Québec is an emerging force. First making its appearance in World Cup 62, the Grim Reapers, after years of gradual development, have made some nice, growing presence in the international footballing community since then. In World Cup 69 the Quebecois qualified for its first ever World Cup proper, and was able to place their footprint in Apox. The National Team, in spite of longtime manager Ji Choon Kim's retirement and team corps in transitions, was able to continue their ascent in World Cup 70 when they once again made it to the World Cup proper. In spite of being unable to get past the group stage, the Grim Reapers nonetheless were able to show the Multiverse that they could contend among the best, and are currently ranked 21st in Multiverse. With fairly modest but recent success in World Cups, Royal Kingdom of Québec looks to have a bright future in international football.
II. Qualifying Format
The qualifying format will consist of 2 group stages. However, unlike World Cup 54 (the previous World Cup to feature 2 group stages for Qualifying), we will not be eliminating any nations between the group stages. Instead, we will utilize a format similar to the one that the Equestrian States (Those dastardly talking ponies!) will be utilizing for the upcoming World Bowl XXV.
The draw for the first group stage will be conducted just like the draw for any past World Cup group stage, with teams placed into pots based upon the current KPB rankings and one team from each pot drawn into each group. In this case, there will be 6 pots, meaning 6 teams per group.
After the first group stage concludes, teams will be drawn into a second group of 6. The pots for the second group stage would be determined by finishing position in the first group stage (teams that finish first in their group go into Pot 1, teams that finish second into Pot 2 and so on). The draw for the second group stage will be conducted with a rule prohibiting any rematches from the first group stage. Thus, every team will be drawn into a second group stage group with a 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place, 4th place, 5th place and last place team from the first group stage and no 2 teams from the same group in the first group stage can be drawn into the same group for the second group stage.
Both group stages will be single round-robin and will be held at neutral sites. We have decided that this is necessary to ensure that all matches can be played without any intimidation of officials or visiting players, in light of the numerous high-profile and rather ugly incidents that have taken place in recent editions of World Cup Qualifying. We feel that this will provide a more exciting atmosphere during World Cup qualifying and a more fair and level playing field.
We recognize that many nations can end up worn-out from the heavy fixture congestion that is common in World Cup qualifying. Therefore, we are also proposing to increase the amount of time between World Cup matches, something which is possible due to our decision to go with a format that only requires 10 matchdays of World Cup Qualifying. In an OOC sense, this means that there will be at least 48 hours between each cutoff, for the duration of the entire tournament.
Following both group stages, all of the results, across both group stages, will be utilized to produce an overall table. The top 30 nations in this overall table will qualify for World Cup 71. However, if any nations are tied on points with the team in 30th place in the overall table, all of the nations tied on points will be placed into a playoff. These playoffs (if necessary) will consist of single matches and will be held in the mainland Holy Republican Empire as part of the deal (in addition to an automatic spot in the World Cup for the Holy Republican National Team) that permitted Football Taiyou to place a bid on their half. Once the playoffs have concluded, 30 nations will join the Republican and Quebecois teams in Taiyou and/or Quebec.
III. Finals Format
The finals format will be the same World Cup Finals format as it has always been. 32 national teams, 2 host nations, 8 groups of 4, single round-robin with the top 2 in each group advancing to the usual 16-team knockout round. Teams will be sorted into pots for the Finals based upon their position in the mid-cycle KPB rankings, with the exception of the 2 host delegations (which will, per convention, be placed into Pot 1).
IV. Scorination/RP Bonus
We have contracted with the respected Xkoranate and SQIS firms for scorination services. We specifically requested that SQIS provide us with their traditional services. In an OOC sense, that means that SQIS will not be modified in any way for this edition of the World Cup.
The so-called RP Bonus, whatever that is, will be cumulative, non-degrading and will emphasize quality over quantity while remaining fair to all styles. There will be a small carryover of RP Bonus to the finals. Style modifiers will also be in use, from -5 to +5.
V. Tiebreakers
To break ties, we will rely first upon HTH (when it is applicable to the situation). After HTH, the other tiebreakers will be goal difference and goals for. Should those fail to break a tie in the Finals, position in the overall table for Qualifying will be utilized as the 4th tiebreaker. Failing that, we will conduct a coin flip (KPB+Bonus or, if that is also even, a neutral site match will be scorinated between the 2 nations with the result counting as the coin flip).
VI. Site Bids
While it is necessary, under our format, to eliminate the tradition of home-and-away double round-robins in Qualifying, we feel that World Cup Qualifying should still be a truly international event, just as it has always been, but without the matches played in empty stadiums in nations that will never be heard from again once Qualifying concludes with a home team whose identity is a mystery. Therefore, we have elected to use a system of site bidding, similar to the one used by Schiavonia and San José Guayabal for the 56th Baptism of Fire. Nations that apply will host qualifying matches in an IC sense, but not in an OOC sense. We hope that a multitude of nations, both new and familiar, will elect to put in a bid to host a World Cup Qualifying group.
Should we not have enough applicants, the nations that do apply might be permitted to host multiple Qualifying groups and, as a last resort, the host nations may step in to host portions of Qualifying.
VII. Experience
Noburu Taiyou has previously hosted the 6th International Baseball Slam. The Holy Republican Empire, while known as the Federation of Free Republics, hosted or co-hosted the 3rd World Korfball Classic, Cup of Harmony 58, World Bowl 22 and World Cup 68. The H.R.E. is currently hosting the X Winter Olympics. Saintland has hosted or co-hosted numerous events in the past, including the Saintland Triple Crown, the 9th Beach Cup, the 27th World Baseball Classic, the 22nd World Bowl, the 23rd World Cup of Hockey and the King Paulus XV Memorial Games. The user behind these nations is the current commissioner of NSCF and the current Vice President of the World Bowl Assembly and currently maintains or has previously maintained the rankings for numerous tournaments.
When it comes to hosting, Royal Kingdom of Québec is no stranger as well. Royal Kingdom of Québec has hosted or co-hosted the Baptism of Iron XIV and XV, World Junior Hockey Championships VI and VIII, World Bowl XXIV, World Cup of Hockey XXV and Baptism of Fire LVII. He also is in charge of Royal Alexandre Hockey Invitationals. The user behind the nation is currently the President for the World Cup of Hockey Federation and a longtime member in many sporting committees, as well as formerly organising the NSCAA Ice Hockey Competitions. He also has hosted many seasons of domestic hockey and football leagues, and intends to restart Champions Hockey League, the hockey equivalent of UICA, soon.